Lichen planus pemphigoides-like lesions induced by cinnarizine

Abstract

A 72-year-old woman developed a lichen planus pemphigoides-like eruption following the administration of cinnarizine. The eruption recurred on challenge with the drug. Direct immunofluorescence studies of the lesions demonstrated deposition of IgG, IgM and C3 on colloid bodies and fibrin at the epidermal basement membrane zone. Circulating IgG antibasement membrane zone antibodies were detected at high titres, with no complement-fixing activities. To our knowledge, this is the first report of immunologically defined lichen planus pemphigoides induced by a drug.